Schools and libraries for remote areas in mainland

RURAL students in remote areas in 10 Chinese provinces will benefit from a project under which 20 primary schools and 100 libraries are to be built in the country.

The project, sponsored by Coca Cola and its 18 bottlers in China, is the first phase of a large-scale educational programme undertaken by China's Project Hope.

Project Hope was initiated by China's senior leader Deng Xiaoping several years ago to enable students from poor and underdeveloped rural areas to continue their education.

At a ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and attended by senior government officials, Steve Chan, executive vice-president and China region manager of Coca-Cola China Holdings presented a five million yuan (about $4.6 million) donation for the project.

''We are going to build at least 50 such primary schools in China in the next few years,' Mr Chan said.

'About 50 per cent of the funds will be raised through charity sales to be held in 18 cities in China with the help of our bottling plants in the country.

'Many employees in the plants will also be contributing to the funding of such projects.

'We will donate the products for the charity sales. The proceeds will be used to build the schools, provide equipment, subsidise education for poor students and assist with building maintenance.' Officials from the China Youth Development Foundation, who manage the projects, and Coca-Cola executives have spent the last few months visiting various localities and selecting the first 20 school sites in China. Construction will start in the next few months to enable students to begin their new school term in September.